Christmas Without Our Golden Boy

After a relatively short illness, our beautiful Grand Manitou of the Townships of the East has left us. We are heart-broken.

My office - now.
Sad - alone.
Harry Nilsson singing Remember.
"Long ago, far away...
life is just a memory"

Introducing Kobi

Introducing Kobi. Our neighbour of many years across the street died on May 14 from a suddenly diagnosed cancer. His last wish was that we promise to take care of his beloved cat, Kobi. His elderly dog went with his master to the rainbow bridge within a day of each other. A very sad and emotional time for everyone involved. Here, Kobi is in our solarium, across the street from where he used to live. Of course the other furry residents were used to seeing him around in the garden occasionally, but inside the house, well that was another thing entirely. Luckily, after a few spurts of hissy-spitty-growly, it has not gone too badly, and he has not spent much time sequestered in the "adjustment room."  But we have had to be vigilant during the weeks following: the emptying of the house, sale of furnishings etc., sale of the house, including an open house event. Very sad.

Amaryllis Dancing Queen in the late spring sun

Old Chair - New Chair, and Keeping Warm

Little Elvi catches some rays on the "chair-to-be thrown-away-but-cannot-now-because-they-love-it-so-much!"

My new chair which replaced the above, but the above is now much coveted.
It does not fit, it is ugly, it is worn out and torn. But they love it - how can i throw it out?!
Maybe later on....when no one is looking!

Ginja - golden boy in the sunny window garden.

Ah - love that old ugly chair!
"Mummy no, don't throw it out!"

The window-scape - what gets me through the winter. Five type of blooms: Oxalis purple shamrock, overwintered begonia (trying to be an orchid/vine, flowering maple, orchid and amaryllis of course.

Antarctica and Minerva

Pink Impression

Red Pearl

Rembrandt van Rijn

Happy Spring!

On the Death Of David Bowie: we all shine on

 

There are a few musical artists that I connect directly and especially with my brother. After we had come to the age where we both could enjoy music as equals, despite our 7 year age difference, he would come home from a local music shop, or from Montreal for the weekend, with a fresh stack of records, his new treasured discoveries and play them on the old family stereo. Oh, but the memories - new music - dancing in the living room. Sneaking a drag from his cigarette. Mum shouting from the nearby kitchen to "turn it down" - (but, occasionally there was a piece or two she enjoyed as well). Or, we just sat and listened. I had a good teacher - he introduced me to the best.

The Rolling Stones (the gift of the scandalous Sticky Fingers album - had to hide it from Mum!) - inscribed by my brother - "the greatest rock and roll band in the world." No, not the Beatles. I do not recall him ever playing them. How odd. But, as they say - there are two types of people - the Stones, or the Beatles. Alex was Stones all the way, as am I. 

The dark, exotic and totally different Exuma, for me, an impressionable young teenager. From the first sounds of footfall on gravel, then silence, then wolf howl - it was another world, indeed an otherworldly experience. Especially after everyone was gone to bed, me with headphones in bed - the booming intro travelling from one ear, through my brain, and exploding into the other ear. Totally awesome and transporting.

Patti Smith (Because the Night), Isaac Hayes (Never Can Say Goodbye - Alex's anthem), ... and David Bowie. Since the news of his passing, many of us have of course revisited the big hits, and some less so - his music was a soundtrack to my growing up, with Alex, without Alex - too often. When one of these "contemporary" artists passes, what follows is always this feeling of loss - again - my brother, and distant memories of when we were young, and healthy, and life and happiness seemed to stretch endlessly before us. We didn't think, we just were - in the moment. Now, with aching joints and and aging eyes, and a face that shifts ever so slightly day by day, I sometimes dance, alone, in my living room, and remember. I dance alone, until I catch myself, feel foolish, and stop. 

I dearly wish I believed in some greater power, some divine place where all those we love and have departed are cared for safely though eternity - until we meet again. I wish I could believe - I just don't know how. Instead, this endless period of mourning  enveloping my life, obscuring every path forward. I hear songs on the radio or online, and I think, yes, Alex would have liked that. And how he would have loved this "new" technology - to listen to music everywhere, anywhere. 

Goodbye David

 

Goodbye Alex - again...

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Postscript - a sign (always looking for signs)? 

John Lennon, as I was about to post this, came on the radio to sing:

"We all shine on, like the moon and the stars and the sun...shine on shine on......"

Wow. Eh?

 

Happy New Year - a Cold One

 

We went from a crazy warm green Christmas to plunge now into arctic temperatures (it was -21C this morning!) The cats just sniff the air upon attempting to go out the door, but quickly turn around - to see who can get to the heating grill in the floor first! I wish there were more of those - especially the large square ones - grills not cats, of course :)  The young and agile orange fellow, Ginja, usually gets to it first. Prime real estate in these wintry days. And so, another year, and despite the long absence, I hope to drop things here more often, if only for myself - fun to look back.
Happy New Year!